Hemet, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

The City of Hemet, not Riverside County, regulates retaining walls within city limits through its Building & Safety Division. Hemet's zoning code (Chapter 90) addresses fences, yards, and building height but does not set a separate numeric height limit specifically for retaining walls, so the controlling standard is the statewide California Building Code that the city enforces. Under California Building Code Section 105.2 (work exempt from permit), a retaining wall is exempt from a building permit only when it is not over four feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall; any retaining wall that supports a surcharge (such as a slope, structure, or driveway loading above it) requires a permit regardless of height. Engineered walls typically require calculations and details stamped by a California-licensed engineer, and the city reviews drainage and grading as part of the submittal. Importantly, a fence built on top of a retaining wall is evaluated against both the retaining-wall rules and Hemet's fence height limits in Section 90-315 (six feet in side/rear yards, 42 inches in a front yard); the combined height of wall plus fence in a required yard can trigger zoning issues even where each part alone would be allowed. Because the city lists fences and walls as permit activities, confirm scope with the Building & Safety Division before building, and provide a site plan showing wall location, height, and distance to property lines.